Blowing engine



July 19,1927. 1,636,001

A. T. KASLEY BLOWING ENGINE Filed July 18, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvuilllrilnun m ,4. 7. lrasley INVENTOR ATTORNEY A. T. KASLEY BLOWING ENGINE July 19 1927.

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e mm A TN n ATTORNEY I Patented July 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER T. KASLEY, OF MOORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO-WESTINGH OUSE .ELEGTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BLOWING ENGINE.

Application filed July 18,

" My invention relates to pumps, and more particularly to air pumps or compressors of.

the blowing-engine type, such as are used to supply air to the tuyeres of blast furnaces.

It has for an object the provision of apparatus of the character designated in which control of the volume and pressure of the air pumped shall be accomplished without variation in speed of the apparatus and with- 1 out throttling of the air supply to the furnace.

Another object of my invention is to provide a blowing engine which is simple and reliable, and which may be driven in a simple, constant-speed prime mover, suc as an electric motor.

The requirements of blast furnace parctice demand the supply of large volumes of air to the tuyeres at a relatively low range of 2B pressures. Blowing engines are usually arge, double-acting units, driven by slowspeed prime movers, necessary variations in pressure being secured by variation in the speed of the rime mover, which practice prohibits a drive by inexpensive, constantspeed electric motors. 1 a

By my invention, there is provided a dcvice'in which air is supplied by a relatively high speed, singleacting blower, or blowers in which pressure control is independent of speed. so that the .blower may be driven by a constant-speed electric motor.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 the gearing through which the apparatus is controlled; Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrating a modified form of my invention in which two single acting cylinders are operated in tandem, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the gearing of Figs. 1 and 5. Other structural features will be apparent from the annexed specification.

' Referring to Fig. 1, I show a blowing cylinder or tub 10, provided with a head 11, and in which a piston 12 is adapted to reciprocate. The piston 12 is driven by a is a detail view of- 1924. Serial No. 726,775.

piston rod 13, connected to a crosshead 14,

which is actuated by a connecting rod 16 from a crank 17 on a power shaft 18. As

shown, the power shaft 18 is driven by a con-.

stant-speed electric motor 19, but it is to be understood that any suitable source of power may be used.

The cylinder 10 is provided exteriorly of its head with circumferentially arranged bearing lugs 21, having suitable bearings for screw shafts 22, surrounding, the cylinder 10 in circumferentially spaced relation. The

shafts 22 are supported on the blower frame by suitable thrust bearings 23, arranged on the blower frame, and by bearings 24, ar-' ranged in'a pedestal 26. It is apparent that the bearings 24 may be thrust bearings if desired. l

A portion of each of the shafts 22 isprovided with a screw-threaded portion 27,.

the lug nuts 28. s the shafts 22 are secured against longitudinal movement by the thrust bearings 23, it will be evident that rotation of the shafts 22 Will cause an axial movement of the cylinder through the coaction between the screws 27 and the nuts 28. The limits of the stroke of the piston 12 are fixed, so that the axial movement of the'cylinder 10 varies the position of the cylinder head 11 with respect to the piston, and therefore varies the percent clearance of the blower.

aline d Each of the shafts 22 is provided near its bearing 24.- with a' gear 29, by means ofwhich it maybe rotated. Each of the gears 29 mesh with a control gear 31, secured to ashaft 32, suitably journaled in the pedestal 26. In a duplex blower, the shafts 32 are provided with gears 33, intermeshing with] a gear 34:, adapted to be driven by a control motor 36, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Rotation of the control motor 36, through the gear trains 34, 33, 31 and 29, and the 75 cylinder 10 throu h the bearing lugs 21 and shafts 22, causes equal rotation of each of the screws 27, so that an equal axial movement of each of the cylinders 10 is secured.

The cylinder heads 11 and the pistons 12 are provided with suitable intake valves 37, and the cylinders 10 with discharge valves 38, through which the flow of air is controlled. The cylinder 10 may' also be pro vided with relief ports 10 if desired. The exhaust valves 38 communicate with a discharge manifold 39, which in turn communicates by a telescopic joint 41 with a wind box 12. Air under pressure from the wind box 42 is conducted by suitable passages to the tuyeres of the furnace being supplied, or to any other desired point of air consumption (not shown).

The operation of my device, as will be evident from the foregoing description, is as followsz Assume that the motor 19 is driw ing the blower at a constant rate of speed, and that the position of thecylinder 10 is such that the clearance between the head 11 and the piston 12 atits inner dead center is a minimum. Under these circumstances the piston displacement is practically equal to the cylinder volume, and the blower is delivering a maximum volume of air. If now the -motor 36 be started to drive the gear train 34:, 33, 31, 29, so that the shafts 22 and the screws 27 are rotated in the nuts 28, the cylinder 10 will be moved toward the left so as to increase the clearance between the head 11 and the piston 12. This decreases the ratio of piston displacement to cylinder volume, so that a less volume of air is pumped per stroke, and as the blower is running at constant speed, it consequently reduces the volume of air pumped per unit of time. The effective length of stroke of the piston 12 is also reduced as the clearance is increased by means of the relief ports 10, thus further reducing the volume of air pumped per stroke.

As the resistance to flow of the air, caused by the tuyeres or other air consuming devices, remains unchanged, it follows that the pressure of air in the system will fall in proportion to the decrease in volume, In this manner regulation of the pressure and volume of air pumped is secured without variation in speed of the blower, and without throttling the air discharge.

Because my blower is adapted to large volumes of air, the diameter cylinder 10 is large, and because comparatively high speed it is desirable that the piston 12 be as light as possible to reduce the strains incident to the inertia of deliver of the a heavy piston. The piston is accordinglyof thin construction, so that the buckling stress incident to the rapid changes in direction of the pressure on the piston 12 presents a serious problem. In F ig. 1 I

of thehave illustrated a number of spaced brace rods 43, connected between points near the circumference of the piston 12, and the crosshead 14. By means of these rods the pressure exerted by the drive on the piston 12 is distributed over a considerable area thereof, instead of being concentrated as in the usual piston rod construction.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 5 and (5, I illustrate two alined, single-acting cylinders at 50 and 51 respectively, these cylinders having their heads :in'juxtaposed relation and having a common piston rod- 52, whereby they give the effect of a single double-acting cylinder, the cylinder-50 having a piston 53 and the cylinder 51 a piston 5 t.

The respective pistons are provided with inlet ports 5555 and therespective heads with exhaust ports 5656, the latter exhausting through telescoping joints 57-57 to an air manifold 58.

Longitiuliually extending members 59, 60 and 61 pass through a central bearing pedestal (52 intermediate the cylinders 50 and 51 J and further engage fixed portions of the blower through thrust bearings at 63 and 6 1. These members engage nuts on the cylinder 50 through left-hand threads and nuts on the cylinder 51 in right-hand threads, whereby rotation of the members 59, GO and 61 in one direction causes the cylinders 50 and 51 to approach and rotation in the other direction causes the cylinders 50 and 51 to recede from each other.

The shafts 59, (i0 and 61 carry pinions 65, 66 and 67 respectively at corresponding ends and these pinions mesh with a central gear 68 coupled to a worm wheel 69 meshing with a worm 70 coupled to a motor 71.

By suitable energization of the IllOtOl 71,

the members 59, (30 and 61 may be rotated.

in either desired direction, thus adjusting the position of both. the cylinders 50 and 51, changing their pumping capacity as will be evident from the foregoing description of the device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Obviously, when using tandem cylinders as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cylinders may only such limitations shall be placed there-v upon as are imposed by the prior art or, as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. 1 f i l Vhat I claim is: j I 1. In a pump comprising a piston adapted to reciprocate in a. cylinder provided with a; head, a plurality of nut members carried by the cylinder, screws adapted to operatively engage the nuts, and means including a. gear train to simultaneously.rotate the screws, whereby the position or the cylinder may be adjusted with respect to the piston.

2. In a pump comprising, piston. adapted to reciprocate in acylinder provided with a head, means to adjustably position the cylinder with respec to the piston, discharge valves associated with the cylinder, a discharge conduit therei'or, and means includ ing a sliding joint for operatively connecting said valves to the conduit.

3. In a pump comprising a piston adapted to reciprocate in a cylinder provided with a head, means to adjustably position the cylinder with respect to the piston comprising screw and nut gearing, discharge valves associated with the cylinder, a discharge conduit therefor, and means including a telescopic joint operatively connec'ing said valves to the conduit.

4. In a pump organization having a plurality of cylinders provided with heads, a piston adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, means to adjustably position each cylinder with respect to its piston, and means to simultaneously actuate the said positioning means, whereby the several cylinders are given coincident movements.

5. In a pump organization having a pinrality of cylinders provided with heads, a piston adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, nut members carried by each cylinder, screws adapted to operatively engage the nuts, means including a gear train simultaneously actuating the screws to adjustably position the several cylinders with respect to their respective pistons, valves associated with each of the cylinders, conduits adapted to communicate with the valves, and means including a. telescopic joint associated with each cylinder operatively connecting the conduits to the valves. A

(5. In a pump organization having a plurality of cylinders provided with heads, a

piston adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, means including a common crank shaft to actuate the pistons, a cross-head asso' ciated with each piston and connected thereto by diagonally disposed brace members, nut members carried by each cylinder, screws adapted to operatively coact with the nut members and provided with thrust bearings to prevent their longitudinal movement, a gear adapted to actuate each screw, gears adapted to connect the first mentioned gears in driving relation to form a gear train, means to actuate the gear train, valved discharge ports associated with each cylinder, a conduit therefor, and telescopic means connecting said ports to the conduit.

'; 7. .In a pump comprising ,a piston. adapted.

to reciprocate in a cylinder, means for movpu1nped,a tixedgfluid discharge conduit, and

means includinga sliding.- joint operatively" connecting the movable cylinder and .the.

ing-the cylinder;.withmrespect to the. PISliOIlEfi rvarying.- the pressure of the .fluidlci;

In a'pum'p comprising pistons adapted 10. In a pump, the combination of a rod adapted to reciprocate and having a plurality of pistons secured thereto, a cylinder for each piston, means for adjustably positioning the cylinders with respect to their associated pistons, a fixed fluid discharge conduit, and means operatively connecting tlhe respective cylinders and the fixed conuit.

11. In a pump, the combination of. a rod adapted to reciprocate and having two pistons secured thereto a cylinder for each piston, means for cor-extensively moving the cylinders with respect to their associated pistons for varying the pressure of the fluid pumped, a fixed fluid discharge conduit, and means operatively connecting the respective cylinders and the fixed conduit.

12. In a pump, the combination of a rod adapted to reciprocate and having two pistons secured thereto, a cylinder for each piston, said cylinders having head members;

disposed in juxtaposed relation, and means for altering the distance intervening between the cylinders, whereby the pressure of the fluid pumped is varied.

13. In a pump, the combination of a rod adapted to reciprocate and having two pistons secured thereto, a cylinder for each piston, said cylinders including end portions disposed in juxtaposed relation, and means for. co-extensively moving the cylinders with respect to their associated pistons for vary ing the pressure of the fluid pumped. I

i l. In a pump, the combination of a rod adapted to reciprocate and having two pistons secured thereto, a cylinder for each piston, said cylinders having head members disposed in juxtaposed relation," means for altering the distance intervening between the cylinders, a fixed fiuid discharge conduit, and means operatively connecting the 5 respective cylinders and the fixed conduit. 15. In a pump, the combination of a rod adapted to reciprocate and having a plurality of pistons secured thereto,a cylinder for each piston, and means comprising screw and nut gearing for adjustably positioning the cylinders with respect to their associated pistons.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this ninth day of July,

ALEXANDER T. KASLEY. 

